Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf: Alterite breezes strong half-mile

ELMONT, N.Y. – When Chad Brown received the French-bred and -based filly Alterite from owner Martin Schwartz this summer, the Breeders’ Cup was the furthest thing from the trainer’s mind. The pair of Grade 1 races restricted to 3-year-old fillies – the Garden City at Belmont Park and the Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland – run four weeks apart, seemed like an ambitious enough fall campaign.

Alterite won the Garden City and ran a solid second in the Queen Elizabeth II. More importantly, she appears to have thrived from such a schedule to the point where last week Schwartz put up $100,000 to make Alterite eligible for Saturday’s $2 million Filly and Mare Turf.

Following a good-looking half-mile workout Sunday at Belmont Park, Brown confirmed Alterite for the Filly and Mare Turf, a race Brown and Schwartz teamed up to win last year with Zagora.

On Sunday, Alterite worked in 48.05 seconds in company with Watsdachances, the filly who finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last year. Though they were pretty much on even terms through the lane, Alterite was doing it much more easily.

“Just tried to gauge how she’s moving and her energy level, and both couldn’t have been any better,” Brown said. “She was moving nice and smooth, and her energy level is terrific. She worked in [48.05], really under wraps. She couldn’t have done it any easier, and she came home very, very happy. I was just watching her cool out.”

John Velazquez will ride Alterite in the Filly and Mare Turf.

Alterite was one of eight Breeders’ Cup horses Brown worked over Belmont’s firm inner turf course Sunday.

Real Solution and Big Blue Kitten, Brown’s Grade 1-winning duo pointing to the $3 million Turf, went in company again, and as is usually the case, Real Solution outworked him, finishing a length in front in a five-furlong drill in 1:01.12. Big Blue Kitten worked in 1:01.32.

Brown said Real Solution, the Arlington Million winner, is “doing everything you want to see going into a race like this.”

Brown noted that Big Blue Kitten began his career in claiming races because of the unimpressive manner in which he worked. Big Blue Kitten, however, has won two Grade 1 races – the United Nations and Sword Dancer – and was beaten a nose in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic by Little Mike last out.

“He worked like that before he ever ran; I’m not as worried about it knowing how he runs in the afternoon,” Brown said. “We’re going out there, stick with our game plan. He likes to come with that late run. He likes to run with cover.”

Bobby’s Kitten, Brown’s lone representative in the Juvenile Turf, worked four furlongs in 50.17 seconds. He began a half-length behind his workmate, Pianist, and finished slightly in front.

“We were looking for a real easy work with him again, just having him rate and obey the commands of the rider, which he did excellent,” said Brown, noting that he is running Bobby’s Kitten four weeks after a lifetime-best race in winning the Grade 3 Pilgrim.

Brown’s quartet for the Juvenile Fillies Turf worked in teams of two. Testa Rossi, the Miss Grillo winner, went a half-mile in company with Granny Mc’s Kitten in 48.91 seconds, according to New York Racing Association clockers. Ready to Act and Kitten Kaboodle went the same distance together in 48.60.

Brown said Testa Rossi worked inside of Granny Mc’s Kitten and “had a touch more, I thought. She continues to do terrific after her Miss Grillo win. They both galloped out well; both were moving well.”

Brown said Ready to Act and Kitten Kaboodle “went together and went terrific. I got everything accomplished I was looking for today.”
Ten of Brown’s Breeders’ Cup horses were scheduled to fly to Southern California on Monday. Easter Gift would ship Tuesday if he makes it into the Dirt Mile field, which as of Sunday morning seemed unlikely.